gender differential paper IJCRB

ijcrb.webs.com
INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS
JUNE 2011
VOL 3, NO 2
nation of Prophet Noah (S.A.W) as the initial stage of civilization, but at this stage also, society
was divided in two classes. One class which has and the other which does not has, Qur’an has
used the term al-ma (11:27) for the former. Al-ama means those people who have sufficient
food and are almost self-sufficient, or the rich and elite class of the society. Arzolna (11:27) is
the term used by Qur’an for those who have nothing, the people who are poor in appearance or
lowborn. It means at that time, society was divided in two classes i.e. rich and poor.
This situation was not restricted to just the nation of prophet Nooh (S.A.W) only but remains
same in almost all the nations described in Qur’an. Even Qur’an has formulated it as a universal
truth, by saying that:
And We sent not unto any township a warmer, but its pampered ones declared: LO! we are
disbelievers in that which ye bring unto us. (34:34)
It means that, problem of unequal distribution of wealth was common in all nations of the history
and it is still present in almost all the nations of the world. This is the reason that, Qur’an has
categorically ordered to the Muslims that:
that it become not a commodity between the rich among you. (59:7)
Qur’an on one side gives this clear cut order and on the other hand provides some meaningful
techniques for the solution of this problem. Waqf, wasiyyah, Sadaqas, Qard Hassan and Infaq
etc., are those instruments which Qur’an and Sunnah suggest to improve the unequal distribution
of wealth. These are non-obligatory methods depending upon the willingness of general public.
The basic objective of this paper is to highlight the role of Infaq in this regard.
2. Role of Infaq
Infaq is basically alternate name of pious spending (Siddiqui 1996)Whereas the importance of
Infaq is concerned it is quite interesting that, order of Infaq is not just given to Muslims only, but
this order is for all human being regardless of time, place, religion or any other thing. This fact
can be clear from the following verse of Qur’an.
And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune
from that which they have earned and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned
(4:32).
The first and the most important point is that Qur’an is addressing to the whole mankind in this
verse, and the second point is that, only partial ownership of income and wealth is recognized by
Qur’an. It means that, the mankind cannot claim the right of ownership on their total income and
wealth. They can keep only that part of their income and wealth which is necessary for the
necessities of life, as it is said at another place.
These people ask you how much will be spend in the way of Allah? said everything beyond your
requirements. (2:219)
The basic objective of this pious spending is to uplift the poor segments of society. This is the
reason that Qur’an has counted all needy people of the society as the most deserving people for
this honorable spending. In this way each Muslim becomes the supporters of the other. It is quite
interesting that Qur’an has counted it as the right of deserving people.
COPY RIGHT © 2011 Institute of Interdisciplinary Business Research 427